Westlake sees spike in air quality in July
Last Modified: Sunday, August 19, 2012 4:05 PM
By Natalie Stewart / American Press
Westlake’s air quality improved from moderate to good last month, according to the state Department of Environmental Quality.
On July 1, Westlake’s Air Quality Index was 58, scoring it as moderate, meaning air quality is acceptable but some pollutants may pose a moderate health concern for people who are sensitive to air pollution.
The July 26 reading had Westlake’s AQI value at 41, putting the air quality in the green, or good, range — satisfactory and posing little to no threat.
Rodney Mallett, spokesman for DEQ, said the improvement in the air quality can be attributed to several factors.
“Air is like weather — it keeps changing,” he said. “The air quality reading depends on several things, and a reason for fluctuation could be the amount of wind, cloudy days, rain or a number of other things.”
Mallett said monitors are set up throughout the state to take continuous readings.
“They are always taking readings, and when we see these levels we say, ‘OK, great,’” he said. “We don’t start investigating air quality until it gets into the orange (unhealthy for sensitive groups) and find out why we are getting that reading.”
Online: www.deq.louisiana.gov.
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